AtkinsRéalis is taking a leading role in supporting the Environment Agency’s (EA) programme of flood and coastal erosion risk management schemes across England following appointment to a key framework from the Government Commercial Agency (GCA).

Working alongside strategic sub-consultants Stantec and Waterman, AtkinsRéalis will provide client support and professional services to EA on the Flood Risk and Asset Management (FRAM) framework.

This supports the UK government’s long-term infrastructure ambitions including a £7.9bn investment in flood defences between 2026 and 2036, to better protect hundreds of thousands of properties.

The GCA Construction Professional Services 2 FRAM framework will support the delivery of EA’s flood and coastal programme by ensuring the agency has the capability and resources needed to deliver projects efficiently and effectively, across three sublots -  technical services; environmental services and commercial and programme management services

By enabling the delivery of flood defence and coastal management schemes, the work under this framework will help reduce flood risk for communities and businesses across England, as well as enhance resilience to the growing impacts of climate change.

It will also protect critical infrastructure and property as well as support environmental sustainability, including the protection and enhancement of natural habitats.

Richard Whale, global market director for water at AtkinsRéalis, said: “FRAM plays a central role in enabling the Environment Agency to deliver a nationally significant programme designed to reduce flood risk and increase resilience for communities, businesses and the natural environment.

“Thanks to our long-standing working relationship with EA, AtkinsRéalis is well placed to bring together engineering, environmental and programme delivery expertise to help deliver solutions that are not only effective, but also sustainable and adaptable over the long term."

Jamie Woods, Stantec’s regional business lead for Environmental Services in the UK, added: “The challenges facing our environment and coastal regions are only getting more urgent, which is why it’s so important to draw together our collective experience and understanding of the best solutions.”